Yugo M57

[Milsurplover]

My Yugo M57 Tokarev just came in today and after disassembling, boiling the cosmoline off, and oiling, I tried to reassemble the pistol when I noticed a problem. When I rack the slide, it does not lock back. I've been working at this for at least 2 hours with no luck. The slide stop appears to be under no tension and it moves around freely even when installed in the gun. Everything else appears to be fine on this pistol, however, the bore is excellent, the finish is flawless, and it feels great in my hand. My only problem with this pistol thus far (besides the cosmoline) is that my slide will NOT lock back. Is this normal for Yugo's or is there a problem with my gun?

 

[bigfatdave]

Does the magazine engage anything on the inside?

Even a broken slide latch spring shouldn't prevent the slide from latching open with an empty mag in the gun.

 

[Milsurplover]

Not sure if the magazine is engaging, haven't checked. So it is the magazine that locks the slide? If so, what would be the best way to approach seeing if the slide engages the mag?

 

[bigfatdave]

The slide latches much like any autoloader ...

Some thoughts:
1 - is the magazine in good shape? The portion of the mag that engages the slide latch is a little step-down bit of the follower

2 - is the slide-latch / takedown pin inserted all the way through? It should be flush on the left and sticking out a bit on the right to engage the spring clip

 

[bigfatdave]

OK ... inspection of my M57 reveals a theory:

Take a close look at the assembly pin and spring retaining clip, you'll see that the retaining clip is ALSO what provides a bit of spring tension to hold the slide latch down ... when a magazine is empty the follower pushes up a bit harder than that spring clip holds it down, the lever goes up, engages the slide, and locks the gun open.

If your slide latch isn't under a bit of downward tension, it isn't engaged with the clip (or the clip is on the floor somewhere) and it might not be able to meet up with the magazine follower and slide at the same time if it is misaligned.

 

[Milsurplover]

Yes! Just resolved the problem. Took a light and held the slide back and moved the slide stop a bit and saw where it moved. Then placed a mag in and saw that the part that engages the slide was too low and was not engaging! took the other mag it came with and works like a charm. With a little bit of tinkering and cleaning out a little but of cosmoline that got stuck inside and gummed up the spring, that mag now works as well. Could still use some dissassembly to ensure that its clear. Also going to try to remove the firing pin, if it is possible. Thank you for the help!

 

[mgmorden]

Congrats! Where did you order yours from? I just put in for one from Wideners yesterday and am hoping to get it by Saturday (we'll see - I imagine it can't take too long to make it from TN to SC ).

Your experience is consistent with what I've heard though - basically that they are soaked in so much cosmoline that without a THOROUGH disassembly and cleaning that they're not going to work right.

Good luck. 7.62x25 is a fun round to shoot (I've already got a CZ-52 and have a blast - literally - shooting it).

 

[Snowdog]

I really really really like my M57s. Unlike the CZ52, they actually fit me quite nicely. I had the time to get to the range last Tuesday and the M57 saw a little use. 140 rounds of Polish military surplus produced surprisingly nice groups (and a very yellow muzzle flash, none of that "blue flame" nonsense I've been reading).

The flawless results, though not surprising, were very much appreciated. The little things like the well thought out captured recoil assembly and decently located safety (if it's got to be put somewhere, it might as well be put in the proper spot) are appreciated as well. I am quite pleased with these inexpensive pistols and their equally inexpensive military surplus ammunition.

BTW, speaking of ammunition, I am fairly confident that these pistol will reliably ignite Yugoslavian 7.62x25 surplus, the same stuff that gives some grief out of their CZ-52 (due to slightly hard primers). I don't know if this stuff was specifically made, also in Yugoslavia, specifically for the Yugoslavian M57s of not. However, I can say for sure that both of mine love the stuff.

Congratulations on your new addition and success (in resolving the slide lock/mag issue)!
Also, a kudos to bigfatdave for his time and assistance in squaring away the issue. I recall him doing the same for folks in other threads as well. We need a few more like you, BFD.

Note the difference in grip length between the CZ52 and the M57. This is likely the reason some find the TT-33 and variants a bit more ergonomic. The hand can ride a bit higher on the grip as well, giving a sense of less felt-recoil with the same ammunition.


Yugo ammunition with Yugo M57s, a great match.

 

[Milsurplover]

Mgmorden, I also ordered mine from Widener's. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but...It took around 3 weeks to get mine. When I called after 4 days of no shipping they told me that they were filled with orders and shipping was taking much longer then usual. They told me I could get a full refund or stick it out and wait for it ship. I decided to stick it out for the long wait but overall I am VERY satisfied with the product. All the parts are in excellent shape, especially pleased with the bore! Going out on Sunday to shoot some polish surplus through it. Will give you guys a range report!

 

[harmon rabb]

BTW, speaking of ammunition, I am fairly confident that these pistol will reliably ignite Yugoslavian 7.62x25 surplus, the same stuff that gives some grief out of their CZ-52 (due to slightly hard primers). I don't know if this stuff was specifically made, also in Yugoslavia, specifically for the Yugoslavian M57s of not. However, I can say for sure that both of mine love the stuff.

i've ran polish, yugo, bulgarian, and i think romanian surplus through my toks (a tt33 and a m57). both eat anything.

 

[mgmorden]

Mgmorden, I also ordered mine from Widener's. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but...It took around 3 weeks to get mine.

Well fiddlesticks. Oh well, I'll be patient if need be. J&G is sold out of the better condition ones (they still have the "good" condition ones for $20 less, but given the drastic difference in quality they show in their pictures that's $20 I don't wanna save) so it seems that only Wideners and Dan's Ammo still have them on hand. Hopefully they've caught up a bit. When I phoned in my order the lady did say that it should ship "before the end of the week". Even that sounded a bit too long but I figured she was just being cautious. Now I'm hoping she wasn't being overly optimistic .

All in all though I'm good as long as they don't run out.

 

[451 Detonics]

BTW, speaking of ammunition, I am fairly confident that these pistol will reliably ignite Yugoslavian 7.62x25 surplus, the same stuff that gives some grief out of their CZ-52 (due to slightly hard primers).

I have yet to find any ammo my CZ will not light.

 

[xr1200]

My brother bought one from gander mountain that had the same problem, it turned out that the mags were not fitting the gun correctly and would not engage the mag release properly. Ended up returning it and they exchanged it for 2 different clips that worked in the gun.

It also turned out that the gun also has the misfire problem where it will fire and somtimes it won't after pulling the trigger and some times it discharges o its one.

Another friend bought hand select when they were still available from JG and it functions fine.

I think a better option might be the romanian tokarevs as they seem to have less problems

 

[Hondo 60]

When I got mine from J&G I took a lrg bottle of Hoppe's #9 & poured it in a qt mason jar.
Disassembled the mags, dropped them in the jar, laid it on it's side & left it that way for just 5 minutes or so.

Wiped off the parts & reassembled the mags - one worked fine, one not so much.
Called J&G & they said to send the mag back.
Got a replacement & now it all is well.

Bought it back in Feb - actually got to fire it 2/8/2011 & now I have 50 rds left out of a 1260 rd spam can.
I chrono'd it & got roughly 1500 fps.

The gun's a hoot to shoot!

 

[mgmorden]

Well apparently they DID catch up on the orders, cuz mine just arrived!

So far I've only given it a cursory wipe down. Looks good so far though!

The fit of the gun is suprisingly tight. I know it's still got a lot of grease packed into every crevace so it'll probably get a bit more loose when cleaned, but everything clicks together and functions very tight.

I was surprised to notice that this gun has a magazine disconnect though. I didn't know that until I was unable to drop the hammer after I racked the slide .

 

[Snowdog]

That's a fine looking specimen, mgmorden. How's the bore? My first one (that I shoot the most) came with a frosted bore but otherwise in excellent shape. The second M57 that I opted to pay the handpick fee for was in pristine shape with a mint bore (that one I try to preserve for posterity).

Now all that's left is for you to get us a range report. I think you'll continue to be pleased by that M57.

 

[jmace57]

I received 4 of these from Widener's today and they look the same as mgmorden's picture, right down to the holsters with the spots on them. 3 of them have sort of cyrillic "BK" on several places on them, which apparently is a arsenal refurbishment mark. These look ALMOST brand new. The 4th one has none of these marks and looks unfired and unused.

 

[mgmorden]

That's a fine looking specimen, mgmorden. How's the bore?

The bore on this one is excellent - bright and shiny. It doesn't look like it was fired much at all.

I do finally have it cleaned up now as well. Was a heck of a task - took me several hours. Once upon a time I used to soak a cosmoline covered gun in gasoline, but I didn't have any loose gas on hand and didn't want to resort to siphoning some out of the boat (nor waiting until Monday when I go back into town ).

Ended up wiping it off as best I could, then using some "Purple Power" degreaser I found lying around. That helped, but didn't work ALL that well. After rinsing all the parts in hot water (the degreaser instructions had in bold print to rinse with water afterwards - not sure if it was necessary but I didn't want to chance it eating the bluing off ). After that I put all the parts except the grip in the oven at 200 degrees for 45 minutes. That dried the water off, and liquified most of the remaining cosmoline. What didn't fall into the drain pan I was able to fairly easily wipe off. Oiled it and reassembled.

Only major headache on disassembly was getting the firing pin out and then back in. From past experience on such matters I went and did it in the hallway where there's no where to go if a part goes flying.

I also managed to put a circular "idiot mark" right next to the slide stop lever as well. When I was reassembling the first time I put it in and slid it up until it went in. Unfortunately that drug the end across the frame marring the finish. Doesn't bother me too bad though .

It was night by the time I got it back together so I haven't shot it, but I do have some general observations:

1. It's a bit odd that the slide cannot be racked if the gun is at half-cock. This had me puzzled for a long time and I thought something might have been wrong until I verified this behavior online.
2. The slide release is small, and rough. Digs into my thumb something fierce when I use it.
3. As mentioned earlier, the magazine disconnect. Overall these don't really bother me in everyday usage, but it is frustrating when cleaning a gun (which I was doing a LOT of right now ).

Overall though it seems like a good gun. Feel in the hand is great - a lot thinner than I imagined it would be. Parts fit is still tight. The safety, though a BATF-mandated addon, seems perfectly functional. Definitely well worth the $199 price tag.

 

[Snowdog]

LOL, I wouldn't worry too much about the "idiot mark" since these pistols by design are all business and aren't all that pretty to begin with (IMO, of course).

I have to admit that I haven't taken the firing pin out of either of my M57s, so you're way ahead of me there. Fortunately, they both work 100%. I'll eventually have to get in there, I'm sure.

Neither of my M57s have slide stops that are difficult to operate, so perhaps that's something that will ease with use. I do think even my "nice" M57 has seen previous service, so I can imagine something possibly unissued could still be a bit on the tight side.

 

[stoney1666]

10 seconds with a drill will get rid of the thing that stops you from firing with the mag out.

 

[bigfatdave]

10 seconds with a drill will get rid of the thing that stops you from firing with the mag out.

I'm trying to figure out if I have a collector-grade M57 (mine appears to be very early production) and if it isn't, that silly interlock is going away.

I don't even think I'd need a drill, just a dremel to neuter the tab the magazine engages.

(no, I am not Danny Dremel, I know how and when to use a power tool carefully)

 

[xr1200]

Removing the mag disconnect will do nothing to improve the trigger pull as on other pistols. On the yugo all it will do is allow you to fire the gun with out the mag in place. To properly remove the disconnect, it must be pressed out as the disconnect rod is pressed in place and can not be simply driven out with a drift punch from the right side of the frame.

 

[stoney1666]

I drilled from the right side

 

[Snowdog]

I'm curious why some plan to remove the magazine safety. I plan to do this with my Hi-Power, but only because it affects the quality of trigger pull.

I'm thinking issues would occur only if someone wanted to intentionally fire the pistol with the magazine removed.

 

[bigfatdave]

Administrative handling
Just on principle
Reliability